Bridge lifts will be needed June 2 as ships arrive, then June 8 when ships depart
Plan for trips to take longer Tuesday afternoon, June 2, as ships arrive in Portland for Fleet Week.
Several bridge lifts will be required as ships representing the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Navy come into port. Among the bridges that will be lifted Tuesday is the Steel Bridge, which carries all TriMet MAX lines and several bus lines.
MAX trains and buses are unable to cross the Steel Bridge while its upper span is raised. During bridge lifts, buses that use the Steel and Burnside bridges will be detoured across alternative crossings whenever possible. Riders should expect delays during the evening commute.
Check trimet.org/alerts for the latest service messages and information. You can also sign up to receive alerts to your inbox or phone at trimet.org/email.
Bridge lifts
Some of Portland’s bridges are designed to lift one or both spans, to accommodate large ships on the Willamette River.
Ships will sail up the Columbia River, then turn south into the Willamette River, before arriving at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in Downtown Portland. As they make their way to their berths, Willamette River bridges will be raised to clear the way. Lifts will be required Tuesday for the Broadway, Steel and Burnside bridges. Riders should plan for trips to take extra time.
The following bus lines typically use an affected bridge and may be detoured:
- Line 4-Fessenden
- Line 8-Jackson Park/NE 15th
- Line 12-Barbur/Sandy Blvd
- Line 17-Holgate/Broadway
- Line 19-Woodstock/Glisan
- Line 20-Burnside/Stark
- Line 35-Macadam/Greeley
- Line 40-Tacoma/Swan Island
- Line 44-Capitol Hwy/Mocks Crest
- Line 77-Broadway/Halsey
Fleet Week ships will arrive Tuesday, with bridge lifts tentatively taking place between 1-4 p.m. These times may vary. TriMet encourages riders to be prepared for potential delays throughout the afternoon and evening.
Ships will remain in Portland through the weekend, welcoming visitors aboard for tours and photos between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. June 4-7.
Ships are scheduled to depart Monday morning, June 8. As they sail back toward the Columbia River, bridge lifts will again be needed. Riders should anticipate delays until noon or later on June 8.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work with our partners to keep everyone safe and support Portland Fleet Week.
Go by TriMet
TriMet is the best way to visit the Waterfront and check out all that the Portland Rose Festival has to offer!
TriMet is the official transportation partner of the Rose Festival. Many events and attractions are transit-friendly, including Fleet Week and CityFair at Tom McCall Waterfront Park and the 2026 CareOregon Grand Floral Starlight Parade on Saturday, June 6.
Save money and skip the stress of traffic and parking — let us do the driving for you! We’ll get you where you need to go. Plan your trip at trimet.org.
In addition to bridge lifts for the Fleet Week ships, some bus and MAX lines will be temporarily disrupted Saturday evening, June 6, due to the Grand Floral Starlight Parade. Shuttle buses will provide service in place of MAX Blue and Red line trains between Providence Park and the Rose Quarter Transit Center. Riders should expect delays and larger crowds. Learn more here, and check trimet.org/alerts before you go.